Samsung Blu-ray Player Review: Budget HD With Flaws
Starting at just under $150, the SAMSUNG Blu-ray DVD Disc Player with Built-In Wi-Fi (Renewed) promises Full HD playback, smart streaming, and DVD upscaling—but the community’s verdict lands at a 6.9/10. While many praise its video clarity and ease of setup, reports of unreliable Wi-Fi and disc playback failures keep seasoned users wary.
Quick Verdict: Conditional buy—excellent for budget-minded users prioritizing Blu-ray picture quality and basic streaming, but risky if you demand flawless Wi-Fi and long-term reliability.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sharp 1080p picture quality via HDMI | Frequent Wi-Fi dropouts or inability to connect |
| Easy setup and intuitive menu navigation | Slow boot times (up to 75 seconds) |
| DVD upscaling to near-HD quality | Blu-ray playback freezes during movies |
| Sleek, compact design fits small spaces | Remote not backlit and occasionally missing in box |
| Built-in apps for Netflix, Vudu, YouTube | Firmware updates sometimes break streaming functionality |
| Affordable refurbished pricing with 90-day guarantee | Customer service often unhelpful in resolving issues |
Claims vs Reality
Samsung’s marketing promises Full HD 1080p playback, wireless access to “all your smart Blu-ray features” via built-in Wi-Fi, and HD upconversion for DVDs. The official spec sheet confidently lists streaming from apps like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Pandora without additional hardware.
Yet, digging into user experiences reveals sharp contrasts. While the Full HD visual claim holds true—one Best Buy buyer wrote: "The picture was beautiful once you actually got it to play the movie"—Wi-Fi reliability is far from bulletproof. Multiple users reported having to re-enter SSIDs and WEP keys repeatedly, even after moving the unit closer to a router. A Reddit user bluntly noted: "The unit will not connect to Wi-Fi… my Wi-Fi works flawlessly on every other device."
DVD upscaling did please customers who still own standard discs. Amazon buyers confirmed clearer image quality: "Non-HD video is automatically enhanced… favorite DVD movies with greater detail and clarity." But the seamless marketing narrative unraveled when discs refused to play or froze mid-movie. One Best Buy review recounted: "The player froze up at all different random places within the first 10 mins of watching."
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Across Amazon, Best Buy, and Reddit, the picture quality for Blu-ray playback remains the standout strength. A verified Amazon buyer celebrated: "Screen is unbelievably clear… easy to hook up and program." This visual fidelity benefits movie enthusiasts with quality HD TVs, especially those who pair it with Samsung displays; Quora reviewers appreciated remote compatibility that allowed controlling TV volume from the Blu-ray remote.
Ease of installation also draws nods from casual users. One Best Buy customer shared: "I plugged in HDMI and Ethernet, unit automatically configured… couldn't have been easier." Parents highlighted that simplicity when setting it up for children’s rooms, enabling quick access to Netflix and Amazon without tech headaches.
Compact design scores big for users in small apartments or bedrooms. The portable footprint lets it fit inside cramped media cabinets, making it ideal for secondary viewing areas.
Common Complaints
Recurrent Wi-Fi instability dominates frustrations. Trustpilot narratives show buffering issues so severe "it’s hard to watch a movie", while Best Buy reviews describe every power cycle forcing full network reconfiguration. This particularly annoys cord-cutters relying on streaming, as broken Wi-Fi negates smart features entirely.
Blu-ray playback reliability is another sore spot. Reports of grinding noises, failure to read discs, or freezing after minutes of play are widespread. A Best Buy reviewer lamented: "What good is a Blu-ray player if it cannot play movies?"—a concern magnified for collectors who buy discs for uninterrupted cinematic presentation.
Slow operational speed surfaces repeatedly. Boot times stretching past one minute led some users to multitask while waiting. While tolerable for patient viewers, binge-watchers or parents attempting quick playback find this drag intolerable.
Remote control shortcomings, including absent units in refurbished purchases and lack of backlighting, frustrate nighttime users. Best Buy had to issue replacement remotes post-sale in several cases.
Divisive Features
DVD upscaling splits opinion; while some see noticeable improvement, others consider the difference minimal compared to modern streaming HD. Similarly, the built-in app selection earns love from those satisfied with Netflix, YouTube, and Vudu, but irks users wanting Hulu Plus or newer streaming services, noting Samsung’s ecosystem is limited and apps can disappear after firmware changes.
Refurbished status polarizes buyers—cost savings tempt bargain hunters, yet several received units that “obviously never were refurbished,” arriving defective right away. Others swear by factory reinspection as a fail-safe, enjoying flawless devices at half retail price.
Trust & Reliability
Trustpilot and Best Buy accounts point to recurring concerns about long-term dependability. Many units work fine for months, then encounter total Wi-Fi failure or disc incompatibility after firmware updates. One Trustpilot review warned: "Netflix app will always be re-buffering until the day you pitch it in the garbage."
On Reddit, users shared near-identical timelines: connectivity and playback degrading within a year, followed by out-of-warranty repairs costing nearly half the price of a new player. Lack of consistent firmware support worsens the issue—Amazon reviewers of the UBD-K8500 variant admitted: "Do not buy! No firmware updates… most new Blu-ray discs won’t play."
Alternatives
When compared to other Blu-ray/DVD players in user data, Sony’s BDP-S1700 appears more reliable in networking, offering “super quick start mode” and stable app connectivity at similar price points. Panasonic non-Wi-Fi models such as the DMP-BD84 suit those prioritizing basic disc playback with fewer failure points, although they lack smart streaming.
Budget DVD-only players—like region-free Electcom Pro models—win among international disc collectors needing format versatility without risking smart feature failures.
Price & Value
Currently listed at $149.99 with a 90-day Amazon Renewed guarantee, resale market prices on eBay for comparable Samsung Blu-ray units hover between $20 and $50, showing steep depreciation. Bargain hunters willing to roll the dice on refurb condition may secure a low-cost HD experience, but resale prospects are minimal. Community advice leans toward verifying return policies and testing Wi-Fi and disc functions immediately upon arrival.
FAQ
Q: Does the refurbished Samsung Blu-ray player include a remote?
A: Not always. Several Best Buy buyers noted missing remotes without warning, requiring separate purchases or customer service intervention.
Q: How long does it take to boot?
A: Multiple users reported 60–75 seconds from power-on to DVD menu. This is slower than many newer players.
Q: Can it stream without Ethernet?
A: Yes, via built-in Wi-Fi, but connectivity is inconsistent for some owners, leading to repeated reconnections.
Q: Will it play DVDs from all regions?
A: The standard model is region-locked; only specific region-free variants can play discs from all zones.
Q: Is 3D playback supported?
A: Select models (e.g., BD-HM59C) support 3D discs when paired with a compatible 3D TV and glasses.
Final Verdict: Buy if you’re a casual movie watcher seeking sharp Blu-ray visuals and prepared to troubleshoot or bypass the Wi-Fi. Avoid if smart features and flawless playback reliability are critical, especially for streaming-first users. Pro tip from the community: test all functions on arrival—especially streaming apps and disc loading—to decide quickly if you should exercise the return guarantee.
